Seattle Excuses Kemp’s Absence

Shawn Kemp has missed a team plane, been late for a meeting and two practices and disrupted the Seattle SuperSonics to the point where they have lost three of their last four games.

In three, he started the game on the bench and he has been assessed multiple fines.

On Friday he showed up after practice with his son and a friend. This time, said the SuperSonics later in the day, his absence was excused.

Once Kemp arrived Friday, Coach George Karl called all his players back for a team meeting.

After Thursday night’s 103-80 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, Karl said he hoped the struggling power forward could start against Dallas.

“We need him playing at a high level, and it’s our job to get him back to that level before the playoffs,” Karl said after the game. “It’s not only his job, it’s our job.”

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